Teachings of the Prophet (S.A.W.)

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

God the Exalted, has said: "And
pilgrimage to the House of God is a duty unto God for mankind, for him
who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth (let him know that)
lo! God is independent of (all) creatures." (Quran 3:97)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.)
says: "The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) once delivered a sermon and addressing
us said: 'O people! God has made it obligatory for you to perform Hajj (the
pilgrimage), and as such you should perform it.' A man asked: 'O Messenger
of God, should we perform Hajj every year?' The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) kept
quiet, till the man repeated his question thrice. Then the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)
said: 'Had I said 'yes', then this Hajj would have become a yearly obligatory
duty, and this you could not have afforded.' The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) further
said: 'Leave me when I omit something for you (i.e.) don't pester me with
such questions, when I am not imposing anything on you. Some people who lived
before you, used to ask too many unnecessary questions, and would disagree
with their prophets. On this account they were destroyed. As such when I
call you to do something, you must obey and carry out my direction as far
as it may be within your capacity, and when I forbid you to refrain from
anything then avoid it.'" (Muslim)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.)
says that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) was once asked: 'Which action is the
best of all?' He (s.a.w.) said: 'To believe in God and his Messenger (s.a.w.).'
He (s.a.w.) was further asked: 'And what next?' He (s.a.w.) said: 'Jihad
(fighting) in the cause of God.' He (s.a.w.) was asked again. 'And what after
that?' He (s.a.w.) answered: 'The Pilgrimage free from vices and defects.'
(Bukhari and Muslim)

It is also reported by
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.a.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: 'Umrah
followed by another Umrah atones for the sins committed between the two.
The recompense for a pilgrimage (free from vice) is nothing but the paradise.'
(Bukhari and Muslim)

Hazrat Ayesha (r.a.a.)
relates: 'I once requested the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) 0' Messenger of God,
we (the women folk) consider that Jihad (fighting) in the cause of God is
the best deed, then may we not go forth fighting in the cause of God? He
(s.a.w.) said: The best form of Jihad in the cause of God for you is the
pilgrimage, free from all vices and defects. (Bukhari)

Hazrat Ayesha (r.a.a.)
relates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: 'There is no other day on which
God frees the largest number of his bondsmen from the fire of Hell than the
Day of Arafat.' (Muslim)

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (r.a.a.)
says that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: 'Umrah performed during the month
of Ramadan is equivalent to a pilgrimage or equals to the pilgrimage performed
in my company.' (Bukhari and Muslim)

Hazrat Laqit bin 'Aamir
(r.a.a.) says that once he visited the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and submitted:
'My father has grown very old and is not strong enough to undertake the journey
to perform the pilgrimage or Umrah.' The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: 'You
perform the Hajj and Umrah on behalf of your father.' (Abu Daud and Tirmizi)